Cisco News & Press Center

Riyadh, June 18th, 2008: Cisco today announced that the Cisco Networking Academy has trained over 10,000 students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 6,500 of them through the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC)

Casablanca, June 11, 2008 - Cisco announced today that as part of strategic agreement, Cisco's global consulting arm, the Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG) will work closely with the Government of Morocco to analyze and define a set of strategic actions and initiatives to help accelerate the penetration of nation-wide broadband connectivity across the Kingdom.

Amman, 11 June, 2008 - The role of women in the Middle East is changing, as is evidenced by enrollment in the Cisco Networking Academy program.

DOHA, Qatar, June 2, 2008 - Cisco announced today that the company will deepen its commitment to supporting Arab youth by designating its globalisation center to support Silatech, an initiative of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned of Qatar, in developing a region-wide technology platform. Cisco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Chambers will oversee Cisco’s commitment on Silatech's board of trustees.

Riyadh, May 10, 2008: Cisco®, the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate, today announced that Al Rajhi Bank, one of Saudi Arabia's leading Islamic banks has chosen to deploy Cisco's Unified Contact Centre Solution in an effort to streamline its processes for communicating with banking customers.

Riyadh, May 10, 2008: As part of its continuing effort to help channel partners address the global technology skills gap, Cisco® today unveiled a Partner Talent Portal for the Saudi Arabia, providing local channel partners with access to Cisco Network Academy® graduates and Cisco certified talents.

Riyadh, April 27, 2008: Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate, today announced that Cisco Expo Saudi 2008 will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 10^th May 2008.

DOHA, Qatar, 24, April 2008: Cisco announced today that the United Development Co. (UDC) of Qatar has selected it to help create a world-class digital island, The Pearl-Qatar.

Morocco, 23 April, 2008 - Cisco today announced that its Networking Academy has achieved a key milestone with a record 47 percent increase in the total number of students enrolled in Morocco in the past 12 months

TUNIS, Tunisia, April 22, 2008 - Cisco today reconfirmed its commitment to support the economic development of Tunisia by unveiling plans to open its first office in the Tunisian capital.

Cairo, Egypt, April 16, 2008 - Cisco announced today that Petrobel (The Belayim Petroleum Company), has implemented a Cisco ® Unified Communications solution to link its headquarters and the oil rigs, facilitating video and other communications channels between the drilling crews and the headquarters' team

Dubai, April 13, 2008: Cisco today announced that it has selected Qatar as one of the 35 countries that will be hosting Cisco Expo 2008

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 6, 2008 – Cisco announced today the launch of Cisco on Tuesday, an innovative video-on-demand web TV show designed to reach customers throughout the Middle East

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, 25, March 2008 - Cisco® today announced that it has been selected as the preferred technology provider for the GEMS World Academy (GWA) Dubai, which is part of the network of Gems Schools

Dubai, February 19, 2008 - Cisco® today hosted its second Cisco X forum, which had attracted more than 700 senior business and technology decision makers. The event took a closer look at the key trends driving globalization and innovation as well as the role ICT plays in developing innovative solutions for the enterprise, public sector and real estate industries.

Dubai, February 19, 2008 - As part of its continuing effort to help channel partners address the global technology skills gap, Cisco® today unveiled a Partner Talent Portal for the Middle East and Africa (MEA), providing regional channel partners with access to local Cisco Network Academy® graduates and Cisco certified talents. The new Partner Talent Portal features curricula vitae and profiles of local Cisco Network Academy graduates to help facilitate the connection between Cisco channel partners and this proven talent pool.

Dubai, February 5, 2008 - Cisco today announced an investment of $10 million to seed a sustainable model of job-creation and economic development in the Palestinian Territories. The three-year investment, made in cooperation with the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, represents Cisco's continued commitment toward building stronger and healthier global communities through strategic social investments.

Riyadh, January 21, 2008 - His Excellency Amr Al Dabbagh, Governor and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), and John Chambers, Cisco chairman and chief executive officer, today inaugurated the "Smart Office" of SAGIA's new Riyadh head office, a state-of-the-art building powered by next-generation infrastructure from Cisco.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 21, 2008 - Sheikh Ibrahim M. Alissa of Madinah Knowledge Economic City (KEC) and Mr. John Chambers, chairman and chief executive officer of Cisco, today confirmed a strategic agreement has been finalized for the infrastructure development of the five-million-square-meter "smart city" project. The project is designed to attract global information and communications technology (ICT) firms who wish to establish operations and research-and-development facilities in Saudi, as well as creating more than 20,000 jobs within the city. Residents should benefit as well, with the initiative providing an attractive and interconnected living environment.

Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, January 20, 2008 - HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Chairman of Rotana Audiovisual and Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, today conducted a meeting with John Chambers, chairman and CEO of Cisco in Riyadh to discuss future collaboration and the adoption of innovative technologies across the company’s Rotana Entertainment division.

United Arab Emirates, December16, 2007 - Cisco Capital™ and Standard Chartered Bank today announced a new financing program designed to increase the deployment of world-class information technology solutions by small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the United Arab Emirates. Under the program, SMB customers can obtain loans, underwritten by Standard Chartered, at competitive rates to purchase Cisco technology solutions.

Marrakech, Morocco, December 7, 2007 - Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate announced today that Cisco was selected by The Foundation of the International Festival of Film of Marrakech to bring Innovative technology that will create a totally new experience to the conference delegates. Some of the technology being used will be showcased for the first time ever in Morocco.

Dubai, November 27, 2007 - Cisco® today announced that the Dubai-based Middle East Broadcasting Centre (MBC Group) has completed the implementation of an innovative network that will help the broadcasting giant to distribute data and live and prerecorded video content over a Cisco networking architecture. MBC has further deployed a Cisco Unified Communications solution including Presence, Unified Messaging, MeetingPlace collaboration platform, Video and Wireless Telephony to support greater employee mobility and improve collaboration and workflow between the offices and production studios.

Algiers, Algeria, November 24, 2007 - Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate, announced that it will be showcasing the latest technology solutions specifically designed for banking, finance as well as the service provider industries at the Alger Telecom and FinanceTec International fairs that will be in Algiers from November 24th to 27th.

Dubai, November 20, 2007 - Furthering its goal to develop homegrown technical skills through education initiatives, Cisco® today announced the launch of its Global Talent Acceleration Program in emerging countries at a ceremony in Amman, Jordan. The event was presided over by H.E. Basem Rousan, Jordan's minister of information and communications technology; David Hale, U.S. ambassador to Jordan; and Wim Elfrink, Cisco's chief globalisation officer.

Riyadh, November 05, 2007 - During Cisco Partner Summit 2007 held in Riyadh, Cisco in KSA today deepened its commitment to supporting its channel partners and resellers through helping them deliver industry-specific solutions to increase transaction size and gross margins. The announcement came when Cisco's channel partners and resellers gathered to celebrate a record-breaking year in the Kingdom.

Dubai, UAE, November 05, 2007 - Cisco® today announced the rollout of Cisco TelePresence, a new technology solution that is poised to drive productivity and enable business transformation by improving the way employees, partners and customers communicate and collaborate. Through utilizing the company's innovations in video, audio and remote communication technology over the Internet Protocol (IP) network, Cisco TelePresence creates a human experience that is so immersive and realistic that users forget they are in different rooms thousands of miles apart.

Dubai, November 01, 2007 - Cisco® unveiled its state-of-the-art Globalisation Centre East campus in Bangalore at an opening ceremony presided over by former Indian President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and John Chambers, Cisco chairman and CEO.

Kuwait, October 29, 2007 - Wataniya Telecom is set to maximize business continuity and deliver downtime-free connectivity by deploying a new Wnet Corporate Offering. Designed and implemented over Cisco infrastructure, the Wnet Corporate Offering includes Primary and Backup wireless Wide Area Network (WAN) solutions, which will enable Kuwait's red carpet telecom company to deliver secure and uninterrupted data, voice, video and mobility services, anytime and anywhere.

Riyadh, Oct 27, 2007 Cisco's channel partners and resellers will join Cisco executives in celebrating a record-breaking year at the annual Cisco Partner Summit which will be held in Riyadh on November 5, 2007.

October 11, 2007 - Read about how the Department of Health and Medical Services of Dubai, United Arab Emirates is overcoming business challenges by deploying Cisco Medical Grade Network.

Dubai, September 24, 2007 - To further strengthen its position as a global dynamic logistics and business hub that drives the industrial development of Dubai, Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) has appointed Cisco as its technology consultant to formulate the overall technology strategy for its AED2 billion Convention Centre Complex.

Dubai, September 04, 2007 - A study commissioned by Cisco has revealed that the success of mobile working is heavily influenced by the employee's traits and the employer's management style. The report, 'Understanding and Managing the Mobile Workforce', elaborates on the dominant characteristics of effective mobile workers, tackles common challenges the workers may face and highlights management best practices.

June 24, 2007 - Calixthus Okoruwa was at the Networkers 2007 event in South Africa and he speaks about Cisco's telepresence.

Dubai, June 21, 2007 - Roshan, the leading telecom operator in Afghanistan, today launched a first-of-its-kind, innovative Telemedicine solution in Afghanistan to expand healthcare access and delivery across the country. Using broadband technology, wireless video consultation and digital image transfer, the Telemedicine project will provide hospitals in Afghanistan with real-time access to specialist diagnosis, treatment and training expertise from abroad.

JOHANNESBURG, June 19, 2007 - Government has congratulated Cisco for its efforts in reducing the information, communication and technology (ICT) skills gap in South Africa. This was echoed during a keynote address by Dr. Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, minister of Communications last night, where she commended Cisco on 10 years of successful ICT skills transfer.

June 12, 2007 Growth potential in Africa is huge.

Riyadh, June 3, 2007 - Saudi journalists got a glimpse into the future today during an exclusive demonstration of Cisco Systems' revolutionary TelePresence Meeting solution. The system, being launched in the Kingdom by Cisco KSA, creates a virtual "room within a room" in which people thousands of miles apart can interact as if seated across a table. The reporters, appropriately, learned of the new technology during a remote face-to-face meeting with company executives.

Muscat, May 22, 2007 - Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, will give organizations in Oman a look at the future of the "Human Network" at Cisco Expo 2007. The annual unique forum will be held in Muscat on May 19 at the Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa and will highlight hot topics like TelePresence, IP Communications, Self Defending Networks, Business Ready Data Centre, Service Provider Technologies and Application Oriented Networks.

Riyadh, 19 May 2007 - Dr. Badr Al Badr, Cisco Saudi Arabia General Manager, recently affirmed Cisco's commitment to the economic growth and development of Lebanon and its commitment to the key role Cisco plays as part of the Partnership for Lebanon Organization.

Doha, May 14, 2007 - Under its upcoming expansion plans, Masraf Al Rayan, the latest addition to the booming banking industry in Qatar, has selected Cisco to roll-out the first Unified Presence Server in the country and the first Internet Protocol Contact Center (IPCC) in the country's Financial Services sector. Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking for the internet, will implement an end-to-end networking infrastructure for data, voice and video.

Kuwait, April 29, 2007 - The old adage "A school is only as smart as its students" was put to the test in Kuwait City today, as Cisco and the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), the first and largest private university in Kuwait, unveiled to the public the fruits of their groundbreaking collaboration: the region's first intelligent college campus that will be available to students.

Riyadh, April 16 , 2007 - Cisco KSA revealed today its new plan to train 30.000 Saudi students under Cisco Network Academy (NetAcad) Program. The new plan was announced within Cisco NetAcad's 10th anniversary that was held in Riyadh under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Ali bin Nasser Al-Ghafees, Governor of the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVOT) which was announced as the first Saudi educational institution to integrate the program into its curriculum as of May 2000.